The Bengal Tiger - Facing Extinction? - The Royal Bengal tiger of India is one of just 5 remaining species of tiger in the world today. Studbook lists the current global captive population of Bengal tigers at 333 tigers. Their populations are declining at an alarming rate and are threatened with imminent extinction in the wild. These declines have continued despite the tiger being listed on Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). All over India, key tiger areas are being destroyed for industrial concerns at the whim of politicians seeking to line their own pockets. The direct result is a country that loses an average of one tiger a day from its dwindling population to poaching for trade, habitat loss and prey decline. By destroying the tigers' habitat, you are also destroying the environment that local people depend on for food and water. The tiger is a symbol of the overall health of India, its environment and its people. We are all together in this small world and it is critical to protect the environment now, before it is too late.